Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday drew national attention to Assam’s wildlife conservation work in the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, citing the return of elephants to the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and a significant recovery in the population of the endangered pygmy hog.
Encroachment cleared, elephants reappear
Speaking about the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district, the Prime Minister said that removal of encroachments from forest land had been a key step in restoring habitat that had earlier driven elephants away. He noted that herds are now being sighted in parts of the sanctuary where they had been absent for years.
“When we protect the environment, we are not only protecting trees, plants, and wildlife. We are also strengthening the entire ecosystem that sustains life,”
Officials in Assam have for years highlighted habitat loss and human pressure as primary reasons for elephant movements. The Prime Minister’s reference to the sanctuary reflects a policy focus on reclaiming forest land and strengthening protection measures, according to state statements.
Pygmy hog recovery: data and recent action
The pygmy hog conservation programme, initiated at Manas National Park in 1996, combines captive breeding, reintroductions and grassland restoration to recover populations of one of the world’s smallest and rarest wild pigs. During his address, the Prime Minister said the population has increased substantially because of these sustained efforts.
Specific figures mentioned by state officials and quoted in the Prime Minister’s remarks include:
- Initial founders: the breeding programme began with six animals.
- Recent population: the population has risen to 194 (reported as over 190).
- Recent releases: 15 pygmy hogs were released in Manas National Park on 9 June.
- State target: Assam aims to increase the population to 300 by 2040, a target cited by Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on 13 September.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Founding captive stock | 6 |
| Current population (reported) | 194 |
| Animals released on 9 June | 15 |
| State target by 2040 | 300 |
Government responses and commitments
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked the Prime Minister for highlighting the state’s conservation work and reaffirmed continued efforts to remove encroachments and protect species. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah’s earlier statement on the 300-by-2040 target frames the recovery as a medium-term management objective.
“Our efforts in this direction will continue, we will free up our land from encroachers and work towards protecting every species,”
Conservationists have emphasised that grassland restoration is as critical as captive breeding for the pygmy hog, which depends on tall, undisturbed grassland habitats. Manas National Park’s multi-decade programme has combined habitat management with breeding and releases to rebuild viable populations.
Practical implications for Assam
The Prime Minister’s national mention may help direct attention and resources to habitat restoration and anti-encroachment work in Assam’s protected areas. Continued monitoring, community engagement and landscape-level protection will be required to maintain elephant corridors and expand grassland for pygmy hogs.
For residents and local stakeholders, officials say the focus remains on enforcement against illegal land use, widening conservation awareness and ensuring that reintroduction programmes are accompanied by long-term habitat management.
The Assam examples underline two interlinked conservation messages: securing and restoring habitat is essential for both large mammals such as elephants and specialised small species such as the pygmy hog, and coordinated state and central engagement can amplify on-ground results.
(Reporting from Guwahati)
